[accessibleimage] Please support web access to visual verification systems

Dear list members, friends, and colleagues:

Though this web accessibility issue might not be directly related to 
the main topic(s) of the list, I would ask those of you who are 
willing, to please sign the petition whose URL is below, concerning 
web pages that contain inaccessible graphical word verification 
systems, also known as CAPTCHA.  These systems are becoming more 
widely implemented, in order to validate that a human is filling out 
the given form to obtain services or information.  This is typically 
done by having the user look at a graphic or picture on the screen, 
and then copy the exact text by typing it into an edit box.  Unless an 
accessible alternative means of verification is provided, blind 
computer users are essentially denied independent access to any 
information or service which is provided, once this correct string of 
characters would be entered.  Since sighted people aren't necessarily 
always present and readily available to assist and read the text, this 
graphical word verification scheme, (CAPTCHA), is proving to be a 
significant and  ever-growing information barrier to a variety of web 
services.  This petition specifically addresses Google, and some of 
the services they offer, GMail for instance, which require 
verification by means of visual examination of a word presented in a 
picture, a task which is currently impossible for screen-reading 
software for the blind.

The petition is entitled:

"Google Word Verification Accessibility"

It is hosted on the web by PetitionOnline.com, a free online petition
service, at the following URL:

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/captcha/

More Background:

Access to an increasing number of services for blind or deaf-blind 
people is severely hampered by websites that use the graphical word 
verification (CAPTCHA) system, without providing another alternative 
independent and timely means of verification.  Such websites include, 
but are certainly not limited to, popular services such as 
YahooGroups, Blogger, Yahoo Email, etc.

A handful of websites have a work-around, such as automated 
verification via Email, or a feature to play a sound file containing 
the characters to be typed instead, for those who are unable to read 
the picture.  Microsoft's Passport system, for example, provides an 
alternative using information presented in a (sometimes rather 
garbled!) sound file.  Though this is not the best implementation of a 
solution, (particularly for those with both limited hearing and 
vision), it is preferable to various widely-used sites that have no 
realistically independent means of getting around having to see the 
word pictured in the graphic, in order to type those characters in the 
edit box.

Following is some additional information that the author of this 
petition, Darrell Shandrow, has provided to me:

*** Begin quote ***

Numerous companies offer their services in a way that already provides 
accessible alternatives to their visual verification systems, by way 
of an audio playback of the characters to be entered.  Examples of 
such companies include:

AOL's Instant Messenger
http://www.aim.com

PayPal
http://www.paypal.com

and SpamArrest
http://www.spamarrest.com.

Others, such as 0Spam
http://www.0spam.com

offer e-mail confirmation that only requires an active e-mail address, 
a quite accessible and screen-reader-friendly alternative solution.

Sadly, many companies, including EarthLink's anti-spam features, 
Google and Yahoo, offer no way to independently pass their visual 
verification tests to gain access to their services.

*** End quote ***


I, Tina, wholeheartedly agree with the spirit of this petition, and I 
hope that you will choose to join me in my support for equal access 
for all web users.  If you can spare a moment, please take a look, and 
please consider signing it yourself.

When you go to the petition link noted above, a form will come up, and 
all you need to do is fill in your name and Email address, for 
purposes of confirmation and verification by the system.  Then, choose 
one of the three following Email privacy options: whether you would 
like to keep your Email address private, or only visible to the author 
of the petition, or if you would like your Email address clickable by 
the public as a Sendmail link.  The automatic default is to keep your 
Email address private, so do not change any of the radio buttons if 
you'd like to keep it this way.

Comments are of course optional, but can be placed in the edit box 
provided, if you'd like.

Click, or otherwise activate, the "submit" button, and you're done

Again, here's the link to place your name on the petition, asking 
Google to implement an accessible solution for graphical word 
verification, Captcha:

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/captcha/

Thank you so very kindly, for your active support of this critical 
issue, for computer users with any sort of print-reading disability.

Very sincerely,
Tina Ektermanis
Greeley, Colorado, USA
tina-e@xxxxxxxxx

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